BANGKOK VOTED ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP SHOPPING DESTINATIONS AND NO ONE IS SURPRISED! AROUND 2.5 MILLION MALAYSIANS VISIT THAILAND EACH YEAR AND WE ARE THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT TOURISTS AS WE KNOW A GOOD THING WHEN WE SEE ONE!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

Bangkok voted among best cities in the world for shopping and retail        Bangkok was recently named one of the 11 best destinations in the world for shopping by the renowned travel website, Frommers.com, with the city’s range of markets and malls being singled out for praise. Eleven cities, including Cairo, London, Istanbul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Paris, have been designated as the world’s best for shoppers.  The 11 were chosen not merely for having the widest range of goods and great bargains, but for ensuring that shopping offers an interactive experience, with atmosphere, history and local colour, as well as sights, sounds, smells and traditions to enjoy. Bangkok was praised for its malls and outdoor markets with bargains galore, for its range of food and textiles in Pratunam and for the ancient floating markets like the one at Damnoen Saduak.  The famous floating markets have long been known for fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers and are a symbol of Bangkok’s tourism industry.  Special mention was given to the Chatuchak Weekend Market and its 15,000 stalls selling everything from antiques to clothing and household goods. Frommer’s, one of the world’ most respected names in the travel industry has been publishing travel books since 1957 and now boasts over 350 guidebooks and a well-known website, famous for offering impartial and up-to-date information on popular destinations, hotels and restaurants all over the world. Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said, “It is a great honour to have been included on this prestigious list; after all, some of these markets have been visited by travellers and traders for centuries – literally in the case of cities; such as, Istanbul and Cairo. “That Bangkok’s markets are so well known internationally is testament to our huge variety of shopping opportunities.  "From cool malls with the latest tech, to age-old village and canal-side markets, there is something for everyone, and our weekend market at Chatuchak is known the world over for its thousands of shops selling bargains galore.  "With new stalls, markets and malls opening all the time, Bangkok looks set to be the must-visit nation for shopaholics the world over.”